G4S Australia awarded Mount Gambier prison contract

The Department for Correctional Services in South Australia has awarded G4S the contract to manage and operate Mount Gambier Prison

G4S has operated Mount Gambier Prison since 1995 and the new five year contract will begin on 1 December 2017 which includes an option of a further term of up to five years.

Mount Gambier Prison, the only privately run prison in South Australia, is a medium security men’s prison with a capacity of 493. Taking over as general manager at the prison for G4S from the end of 2017 will be Michelle Price, previously deputy director for G4S-managed HM Prison Rye Hill in the UK. Michelle played an instrumental role in the tender process and brings a wealth of experience from her previous role.

As the new contract begins, Michelle and her team will be developing new partnerships with the local Mount Gambier community. These will include support services and technology partners which will provide rehabilitation and reintegration services and programs aiming to reduce prisoner’s risks of reoffending and aiding in the seamless reintegration back into the community.

The prison will also continue to work alongside the State on the successful expansion of the facility, engaging with the community and providing significant employment opportunities in the region.

“This new contract speaks to the trust and confidence that the Department for Correctional Services and the South Australian Government have in my team to continue to deliver a secure, safe and humane environment for prisoners.

“Through our partnership with the Department for Correctional Services, we have refreshed our approach to prison operations and to the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders back to the community with new targets to reduce reoffending, supporting the Governments policy to achieve a 10% reduction by 2020. We will continue to support a safer South Australian community and look forward to building on our valuable long term relationship with the department”

ABOUT G4S

G4S is the world's leading global, integrated security company specialising in the delivery of security and related services to customers across six continents. The group is active in 95 countries, and is the largest employer quoted on the London Stock Exchange with over 585,000 employees and has a secondary stock exchange listing in Copenhagen.